By Sohaib Shams
Chinese state broadcaster CCTV did not air Real Madrid's La Liga match against Racing Santander on Sunday, despite an apology from star striker Kylian Mbappe over remarks about former Chinese leader Mao Zedong. The controversy began last week when Mbappe joked on a French television programme that the meme he found funniest showed his face superimposed on that of "a Chinese dictator" resembling Mao, though he did not name Mao directly.
Apologies and commercial fallout
China's foreign ministry acknowledged Mbappe's apology on Wednesday, with spokesman Guo Jiakun stating they took the apology seriously. Mbappe, 27, described his comments as "ill-judged" and said he now understood they had hurt many people in China and Chinese communities worldwide. Real Madrid and La Liga also issued apologies after China Media Group (CMG), CCTV's parent organisation, suspended La Liga broadcasts and demanded apologies as a prerequisite for resolving the dispute.
The controversy has had commercial consequences, with several Chinese brands dropping Mbappe from sponsorship deals. In China, where Mao's legacy as the founder of the People's Republic is revered, mocking him or describing him as a dictator is strictly taboo.
Match proceeds without broadcast
Real Madrid defeated Racing Santander 3-0 on Sunday, with Mbappe, Jude Bellingham and Yan Diomande scoring. La Liga president Javier Tebas established a crisis unit and met Chinese ambassador Yao Jing on Wednesday as Spanish football sought to contain the fallout. CMG has acknowledged the apologies but has not clarified when broadcasts might resume. China is a major market for European football, with CCTV also televising matches from the Premier League and the German, French and Italian top divisions.
Mourinho comments on the row
Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho said on Saturday the club had "nothing more to say" on the matter. He noted the dangers of today's world where "the best thing you can do is not open your mouth" and praised both the club and Mbappe for reacting immediately with class.
